Music

Premiere: Peep GUMP's Latest Single, "War"

In an era where citizens are (understandably) concerned about their civil rights, safety, and social injustices, we (the people) look to music for encouragement and inspiration. Case in point? Just outside the nation’s capital, GUMP is hitting all the right notes: an electronic jazz style of hip-hop highlighting live musical instruments, and with political commentary to boot, their latest single “War” is just what the doctor ordered for 2017.

Righteous lead vocalist Uno Hype both raps and sings on tracks, approaching hardcore government issues and inequity with subtle musical maneuverings that keep us coming back for more (though we’ll have to wait for the rest of the Beer & Wine EP; it’s not coming until later this year). The group, led by the formally mentioned frontman and DC rapper Uno Hype, alongside Ali Badalov, Joey Pappas, and Zeeshan “Zefolious” Shad, keeps our toes tapping and our minds woke the whole way through; if Beer & Wine is anything like “War”, we’re undoubtably in for a treat.

“I wanted the world to get a sense of my daily life and how exhausting it can be for me,” Hype says. “Ultimately, ‘War’ speaks on what’s been happening and what is still part of America today. While the title may suggest an attack on the opposition, I decided to take more of an observant approach and tackle today’s problems head on. This song was an outlet for me to release my frustration I have with this country and the tale of a young black male living in now what is…Trump’s America.”

Get a first listen of the track below, premiering exclusively on Milk, and stay tuned for the full EP, Beer & Wine, dropping later this year (until then, you can listen to last summer’s SLEVEN EP for a delectable taste of what’s to come).